Let this year’s Merdeka Day celebration spark a new national discourse on rewriting the Malaysian script so that it focuses on our “common humanity”, says Lembah Pantai member of parliamant (MP) Nurul Izzah Anwar of PKR.

In an email interview, Nurul Izzah, 30, speaks about the crucial need to replace the old national script, which continues to dwell on the spectre of inter-communal strife, and says politicians should not stand in the way of promoting patriotism and nationalism.

Below are her answers to our Merdeka Day questions.

What, to your mind, should be the next major goal for Malaysians?
We need a new script to follow, as the old script continues to play on the bogeyman of inter-communal strife and Malay insecurities… To achieve this, we need a new era of constructive engagement involving all stakeholders to chart a new script based on the principles of a modern, progressive economy and the ideals of our founding fathers.

Our country has lost its competitiveness. It has become more risky and less attractive for foreign investment. Foreign investments are crucial for development and prosperity as we cannot rely solely on domestic-led investments.

Economic reforms are a prerequisite, but not sufficient, to achieve the performance of a high-income economy. Civil reform is a necessary step.

In today’s borderless world, what does independence mean to you?
Independence, in a democratic and pluralistic society, means freedom in all forms as dictated by our constitution… We must look forward. We must be allowed to pursue our dreams and fulfil our potential as a people and nation that has historically been inclusive and diverse.

In fact, diversity is our nation’s foundation and it is this diversity that will make us stronger and help us grow as a proud and prosperous nation.

What is your idea of nationalism and national cohesiveness?
Our identity must be Malaysian. Our interest must be the Malaysian interest.

By celebrating our differences, we can then frame a new national script that will make us a more humanistic nation. At the core of our ethnic existence lies our common humanity, which must be our reason for a common identity and polity that is Malaysia.

Rhetorics aside, we need all these ideals to be translated into action. Politicians should lead the charge, not stand in the way of promoting true patriotism and nationalism.

Is Malaysia heading in the right direction as a society? What would you change about the national outlook?
Political tension and temperature are rising due to the irresponsible play, by certain groups, on Malay insecurities. We must not allow “ultra” views to gain mainstream support or we might regress to tribalism and feudalism. My vision is for Malays to rise as a confident society.

The real debate should be about how, after 53 years of independence, the Malays have come to perceive themselves as being more insecure, disadvantaged and under siege. Why have the numerous government policies intended to create a more equitable and just society, but now undermined by corruption and institutional abuse, been allowed to continue unchallenged?

This is the national outlook or consciousness that I would like to see change. (I would like for us to think that) we can be truly independent, because there is hope which lies in the hearts of all Malaysians.

What are Malaysia’s prospects for the next generation?
The outlook is bright and promising. We are witnessing an unstoppable generational shift, a new consciousness brought about by… [a] movement of a new Malaysian generation (driven) by the information age.

No longer are we blinded or misled by propaganda and mere rhetoric. We understand political theatrics as we see it. We feel empowered and have the God-given right to chart our own future by writing our own Malaysian script. We sense that the tide of history is on our side.

We are optimistic and ever hopeful that this new generation is on the edge of a new beginning. All we have to do is believe and just do the right thing.

What is your wish for Malaysia this Merdeka Day?
My wish is for all Malaysians to stand up and claim our right to live in the spirit of Merdeka. That’s all we have to do now as we face the grumblings and crumbling of the old order.

This article appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, August 30 2010.

FreeMalaysiaToday By Teoh El Sen

MON, 30 AUG 2010 21:29

PUTRAJAYA: Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar is planning to start her very own newspaper, which would be a Malay daily called “Utusan Rakyat”.

The PKR leader earlier today submitted a letter of intent to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein at the latter’s office to assist in speeding up her application for a publication permit.

Nurul Izzah’s application comes in the wake of the Home Ministry’s recent decision not to renew the permit of Suara Keadilan, a PKR news organ, after the permit expired on June 30.

The ministry had sent a show-cause letter seeking explanation over several articles, including the one entitled “Felda Bangkrap”(Felda bankrupt). Felda has since filed a suit against the paper over the “bankruptcy” allegation.

Asked if “Utusan Rakyat” was a revival or a spin-off from Suara Keadilan, Nurul Izzah said: “This is going to be different, it is not a party organ. We are going to be non-partisan. We will be free and independent.”

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By Yow Hong Chieh  August 31, 2010

Nurul Izzah wants clarification from Perkasa on where they are going with their agenda.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 31 — Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar today invited Perkasa to a public debate on Malay rights, contending that the question of Malay special rights should be put to the King and the people of Malaysia.

Her invitation to the Malay rights group appeared to be an attempt to contain Datuk Ibrahim Ali’s growing influence on policy by locating his discourse squarely within the democratic process.

Referencing Article 153 of the Federal Constitution – which Perkasa says grants “Malays rights” in perpetuity — Nurul pointed out that the article only specified that Malays be given a special position and should, in fact, to be interpreted in light of Articles 8(1) and 8(2) by the King or a body appointed by him.

Article 8(1) states: “All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law”; and Article 8(2): “Except as expressly authorised by this Constitution, there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent or place of birth in any law relating to the acquisition, holding or disposition of property or the establishing or carrying on of any trade, business, profession, vocation or employment.”

“It would be ideal to have a mandated entity such as a Constitutional Court or at least a Constitutional Council appointed by the King to act as the final interpreter of any constitutional issues,” Nurul said, adding that the judiciary, which already deals with constitutional matters, would also have a role to play.

Alternatively, she proposed a possible solution in the form of a legally binding referendum, while simultaneously challenging Perkasa to both a dialogue through open letters as well as a televised debate.

Nurul argued that “Malay rights”, as envisioned by Perkasa, were an ideological and philosophical construct that was not rooted in either the constitution or law.

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YB Nurul Izzah ke Blok P20 Taman Bukit Angkasa pada 30 ogos 2010 (Isnin) bagi menyampaikan sumbangan ramadhan dan berbuka puasa dengan penduduk sekitar.

Seramai 33 penerima telah menerima bantuan barangan keperluan dapur dan wang zakat dari YB Nurul Izzah. Sumbangan ini sedikit sebanyak dapat meringankan beban golongan yang kurang berkemampuan dalam bulan Ramadhan yang mulia ini.

Mariam Mokhtar
Aug 30, 10 11:57am

Three BN ministers were not speaking from a position of strength when they labeled PKR politician Nurul Izzah Anwar a traitor and a sinner for saying in an Indonesian newspaper, that Malaysia’s new, multimillion ringgit submarine is defective.

She also highlighted the problems plaguing our navy and expressed doubts about the New Economic Policy (NEP).

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom said, “Those who tarnish their country’s image with the aim of causing turmoil are regarded to have sinned.”

The truth hurts, but Jamil is mad to brand people who are critical of the Malaysian government as ’sinners’.

He then said: “We should love our country and be prepared to defend it, as defending our own country is a jihad (holy war) which carries a big divine reward.”

Calling the defence of one’s country a jihad is wrong. 

The last idiot who used a similar pejorative term was George W Bush. He used the expression ‘crusade’, to describe his country’s response to the Sept 11 attacks.

Terms like ‘crusade’ and jihad produce a negative reaction in both Christian and Muslim communities.

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By Stephanie Sta Maria THU, 26 AUG 2010 10:44

SPECIAL REPORT ON KL The Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur has long been a political trophy for the government and the opposition and the competition took a fierce turn after 2008.

Prior to that fateful year, the Barisan Nasional (BN) enjoyed dominion over the city with seven representatives in the 11 constituencies. The tsunami washed out six of them thus putting the trophy in the hands of Pakatan Rakyat.

Now BN understandably wants it back and has begun its conquest with the key constituency of Lembah Pantai. But MP Nurul Izzah Anwar isn’t going down without a fight.

Right now though, her days are occupied by regular scuffles with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), which she claimed is an immovable block in her path towards serving her constituents.

“Most of the issues plaguing Lembah Pantai, like enforcement, public housing and services, fall under DBKL’s purview,” she said. “Which means that all the opposition MPs in KL are at the mercy of DBKL’s officers, legislations and structure. And our role is made even more complex by the on-going dynamics between elected and appointed representatives.”

One particular DBKL practice that has Nurul gritting her teeth in frustration is its lack of transparency in issuing housing to the people of Kampung Kerinchi. Her requests that DBKL publicly display a list of recipients has gone unheeded.

“The list is crucial so people know that no invisible hand is involved in the distribution of housing,” she emphasised. “But DBKL is still continuing to operate based on its whim and fancy. There is no way of tracking the basic requirements to qualify for housing, and when there is no rule of thumb or consistency, the whole process is then open to abuse.”

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